Carpet assembly



April 12, 1966 L. G. BOBROWSKI CARPET ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 1,

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. LOUIS G. BOBROWSKI ATTORNEYS A ril 12, 1966 L. a. BOBROWSKI 0 CARPET ASSEMBLY F'iled Feb. 1, 196a 2 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR.

LOUIS G. BOBROWSKI B YZM WW/a7 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,245,104 CARPET ASSEMBLY Louis G. Bobrowski, Berlin, Conn., assignor to The Stanley Works, New Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Feb. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 255,626

3 Claims. (Cl. 167) ment, replacement or repair thereof, for example, it is highly desirable, if not necessary, that their assoclated mats be quickly and easily removable and replaceable without causing injury or permanentdeformation of the switch-mat assembly.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved carpet assembly wherein the carpet may be removed and reinstalled in a quick and easy manner.

A more specific object included herein is the provision of an improved carpet assembly utilizing frame moldings which may be permanently secured tothe floor 'or the like and do not have to be disassembled or removed from the floor in order to remove or reinstall the carpet.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such an improved carpet assembly which is easy to install and which includes molding parts'that may be economically manufactured in one-piecestructures of high durability so as to provide effective service over long periods of repeated and rugged use.

A still further object of the present invention is to pro- .vide such a carpet assembly including an improved carpet clamp of economical construction which willhighly facilitate installation and removal of the carpet assembly with- 8 out permanent distortion of the switch-mat or carpet thereof. t

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

. t The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings: FIG. 1' is a perspective view, with portions broken .away, of a doorway including a switch-mat assembly con- 'structed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 but showing the door in open position and in fragment;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmental cross-sectional view taken generally along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 with the carpet shown in phantom;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view with portions broken away taken generally along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 with the carpet shown in phantom and additionally showing a pair of assembly shims; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmental cross-sectional view 'ice taken generally along lines 5-5 of ,FIG. 2 withthe carpet shown in phantom.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows-for illustrative purposes a doorway including a power-operated door 2 and a carpet assembly, generally designated 4, embodying the present invention. The door 2 is mounted at its opposite ends for pivotal movement to the top jamb 6 and to a bottom threshold plate 8 which abuts against the vertical jamb 7 and is secured to the floor 10 as by the screws 9.

In the illustrated embodiment, the carpet assembly includes a rectangular frame comprised of side moldings 14, 16 and end moldings 18, 20 which enclose and define an area which receives two carpets 22, 24 interconnected by means of a carpet clamp, generally designated 26, extending across the threshold of the door. The carpets .22, 24 are of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,709,080 to Roby et a1. Since such carpets, or switch-mats, 22, 24, include closely positioned switch elements, it is essential that their assembly and rem-oval be effected without any permanent distortion of the switchmat since such distortion may cause the switch elements to remain permanently in contact to render the switch- .mat unusable. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the peripheral frame moldings 14, 16, 18 and 20 are identical in cross section and have a one-piece body of generally tapering profile wherein the outer portion 30 is of relatively thin cross section and has a lower surface 31 flattened to abut the floor 10,

while the inner portion 32 terminates in a laterally extend- ,ing flange 34 and a downwardly extending abutment 36 which form a channel for receiving the edges 25 of the 'carpet. The side and end moldings 14, 16, 18 and 20 .are. permanently secured to the floor-supporting surface 10 by any suitable means, such as the screws 38 which are countersunk into the top surface of the molding.

' .If desired, the longitudinal serrations 40 may be provided in the top surface of the frame moldings to provide increased traction. It will be readily apparent that this one-piece molding construction is capable of supporting heavy concentrated loads without distortion. Moreover, because it is a one-piece extrusion with no working parts, it is inexpensively made and is maintenance free.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the flange 34 of the moldings is formed so as to' receive the carpet with a clearance 41 therebetween, which'in the preferred embodiment is aboutflt of an inch, while the moldings are positioned so that their abutment 36 will be spaced, as shown by the clearance 43, from the edges 25 of the carpet, preferably of an inch, the clearances 41, 43 being shown in FIG. '5. a

Referring to FIG. 3, the carpet'clamp' 26-is formed of a two-piece separable construction including a base portion 44 and a top or cap portion 46 which are generally planar members separably held together in overlying relationship by means of. the threaded fasteners 47 which are received in aligned bores 48 provided in the central bosses 49, 50 of the members 44, 46, the bores 48 of the bosses 49 being threaded to correspond to the fasteners 47.

The base member 44 is formed with a flat bottom surface 52 so as to be supported on the floor 10, while the side edge portions 54 of the base member 44 are formed with a thin cross section having a flat upper face 56 parallel to the bottom surface 52 adapted to en-,

gage the underside of the carpets 22, 24 as shown in FIG. 3. The top member 46 of the clamp on the underside adjacent the edges 58 thereof is formed with a groove or recess 69 adapted to clamp the carpet in semidovetail fashion, the carpets 22, 24 having a groove 59 molded in one of the ends thereof dimensioned to receive the edge portions 58 of the top clamp member 46 as shown in FIG. 3.

The base member 44 is additionally provided with a pair/of upstanding projections-62 spaced inwardly from the edges thereof so as to provide .a.compartmentz64 for-receiving andproperlypositioning circuit wires 66 as well as to provide abutments engageable with the embossed portions 68 on the underside of the top mem- -ber46 to thereby. limit downward movement of thetop member should it be excessivelyrloaded.

In the'installation of the carpet assembly, which will now be described, the moldings aswell as the threshold plate 8 may be cut on or off the job site to satisfy -the requirements, such as for carpet length or carpet centering, of a particularcase.

in installation after the threshold plate 8 is secured in position on the floor against the jamb 7, the carpets :22, 24 are laid-on the 'fioor to extend through the doorway with their dovetailed ends in abutting relationship. "The carpets 22, 24 arethen-spaced longitudinally and the top member 46 of the clamp 26 is temporarily placed between the carpets.22, 24 with its edge portions 58 received in the corresponding grooves 59 in the carpets so as to determine the over-all length or the two carpets 22, "24 when connected by the. clamp 26. The top member '46 of the clamp 26 is then'rernoved withoutdisturbing the position of the carpets 22, 24 and then the base member 44 of the clamp is'slid under the ends ofthe "carpets and spaced evenly thereunder, the placement of the base member 44 under the carpetsZZ, 24 being-highly facilitated by the thin side edge portions 54 of the base member '44.

The circuit wires 66 are then placed between the ends of thecarpets 22, 24 and the upstanding projections 62 of the base member 44, after which the top member 46 ofthe clamp 26 is secured to thebase member 44 by the screws 47 to thereby clamp the ends of the carpetsv 22, 24 to join the latter, as shown in 'FIG. 3.

The carpets 22, 24 as connected'by the molding clamp 26 are then adjusted intothe desired position with respect to the door 2 and the doorway space between the jambs '7. In the shown embodiment, this position is such that thelongitudinal center line of the carpet 22, 24 approximately intersects the midpoint between the =pivotpoint 3 of'the door 2 and the far vertical jamb 7 andfurther suchthat when the door 2 is in fully closed position, it will be centered over the molding clamp 26.

The carpets 22, 24 having been properly positioned, .the side and end-moldings'14, 16, 18 and 26 are then ;-permanently secured to the floor It) by the'screws 38. In order to facilitate'the positioning of the side and end moldings so that when secured to'the.fioor they'will "bespaced the desired'distance from the edges'25 of the :caripets, as described above, guide shims 70 are placed along the side edges ,of the carpets 22, :24 as best shown vin FIG. 4, and then the side moldings 14,16 are positioned by abutting the outer surface 37 of their abutments 36 against the guide shims 70. After the frame moldings are secured to the floor, the guide shims "70 -are removed.

When the carpet assembly is finally installed, the inner portions 34, 36 of the frame moldings are positioned sufficiently close to the edges of the carpets so as to insure that the carpets will be retained in the laid position. When it is desired to remove either or both of the carpets, the top member 46 of the molding clamp 26 is removed from the base member 44 thereof and, after the circuit wires 66 are removed from compartments 64, the carpet may be removed by longitudinally sliding the carpet in the direction of the clamp 26 until the far end thereof has cleared the end molding 18 or 20. The carpet may then be grasped at both ends at about the longitudinal center line thereof for removal. This is greatly facilitated by the clearances 41, 43 provided between the edge of the carpet and the inner portions 32 of the frame moldings which accommodate the upward movement of the edge portions 25 of the relatively rigid carpet. Further, the spacing of the projections 62 a distance from the ends of the carpets 22, 24 in assembled position, and the use of a smooth upper surface 56 on the base member 44 accommodate the longitudinal movement of the carpets -22, 24-to clear the end moldings 18, 20 before they are bowed upwardly for removal. This prevents any permanent deformation of the carpet.

To reinstall; the carpets 22,24 generally the reverse steps .are. effected andthis is also highly facilitated by the above-described clearances 41, '43 as well as the side edge portions 54 of theb-ase member '44 of the clamp '26.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in addition to providing quick and convenient installation and removal of the carpets, the present invention provides a carpet assemblywherein the framemoldings may be constructed in one piece and permanently secured to the floor so as to provide, in addition to economy, a rigid frame that will endure over long periods of repeated and rugged use.

As will beapparent to. persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure abovedescribed will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is-define-d in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In combination with a floor-supporting surface of adoorway for-power-operated doors and the like, a

switch mat assembly comprising a frame enclosing .a mat-receivingarea on the supporting surface, said frame including side'moldings and end moldings each comprising a one-piece body secured to the supporting surface,

said body having a flange projectinglaterally therefrom and overlying the margin of said area, said body further having an inner side wall below said flange and defining the outer periphery of said area, a'pair of carpets positioned in said area with the side edges and one end edge of each carpet located under said flange and in spaced relationship with said side wall, and a clamp supported on said surface between said carpets connecting the adjacent ends thereof together including top and "basemembers-positioned on opposite sides of said carpets, one of said members having a pair of abutments 'each spaced adjacent-the side edges thereof and projecting toward the othenmember for engagement therewith to limit downward movement of the side edges of 'thetop member, the top member of said clamp being separable from the bottom member thereof for the installation and removal of the carpets.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said clamp extends, across said area between said side moldings, wherein said base memberof the clamp is a plate having side edge portions of thin cross section engageable with the underside ofthe carpets, and wherein said pair of abutments project upwardly from said base member in spaced relation to the clamped end of the car- 'pet to accommodate the longitudinal movement of one of said carpets to clear the associated ,end' molding prior to bowing the carpet upwardly along its longitudinal centerline for removal.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the side wallof said one-piece body engages the supporting surface and extends upwardly therefrom to define the outer periphery of said mat-receiving area, and wherein 5 r 6 said flange is interconnected with the top of said side 2,807,826 10/1957 De Vault 16--7 Wall and projects inwardly therefrom in overlying rela- 2,821,762 2/1958 Foose 2481 tion to the edges of the carpet. 2,875,467 3/1959 De Vault 16-7 2,996,751 8/1961 Roby et a1 16-7 References Cried y the Examiner 5 $050,802 8/1962 Imparato 24 81 UNITED STATES PATENTS P 1,242,789 10/1917 Franz 16O 87 X JOSEPH D SEERS, rlmary Exammer HARRISON R. MOSELEY, DONLEY J. STOCKING,

1,656,750 1/1928 Morse.

Examiners.

2,557,845 6/1951 Sakolik 16-16 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A FLOOR-SUPPORTING SURFACE OF A DOORWAY FOR POWER-OPERATED DOORS AND THE LIKE, A SWITCH MAT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A FRAME ENCLOSING A MAT-RECEIVING AREA ON THE SUPPORTING SURFACE, SAID FRAME INCLUDING SIDE MOLDINGS AND END MOLDINGS EACH COMPRISING A ONE-PIECE BODY SECURED TO THE SUPPORTING SURFACE, SAID BODY HAVING A FLANGE PROJECTING LATERALLY THEREFROM AND OVERLYING THE MARGIN OF SAID AREA, SAID BODY FURTHER HAVING AN INNER SIDE WALL BELOW SAID FLANGE AND DEFINING THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF SAID AREA, A PAIR OF CARPETS POSITIONED IN SAID AREA WITH THE SIDE EDGES AND ONE END EDGE OF EACH CARPET LOCATED UNDER SAID FLANGE AND IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID SIDE WALL, AND A CLAMP SUPPORTED ON SAID SURFACE BETWEEN SAID CARPETS CONNECTING THE ADJACENT ENDS THEREOF TOGETHER INCLUDING TOP AND BASE MEMBERS POSITIONED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CARPETS, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING A PAIR OF ABUTMENTS EACH SPACED ADJACENT THE SIDE EDGES THEREOF AND PROJECTING TOWARD THE OTHER MEMBER FOR ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH TO LIMIT DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE SIDE EDGES OF THE TOP MEMBER, THE TOP MEMBER OF SAID CLAMP BEING SEPARABLE FROM THE BOTTOM MEMBER THEREOF FOR THE INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL OF THE CARPETS. 